Vision enhancing light clip

ABSTRACT

A lighting device, for attachment to an object structured to be worn on at least one facial feature of a human user, having a releasable fastener adapted for attachment to the above-noted object and a pole, having a first end pivotably connected to the releasable fastener, and a second end, opposed to the first end. An electric lamp is pivotably connected to the second end. Further, the pole defines an internal cavity and has battery contacts positioned to contact a battery set placed in the internal cavity. A conductive assembly is electrically connected between the battery contacts and the electric lamp, so as to power the electric lamp.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application SerialNo. PCT/US17/51114, filed Sep. 12, 2017, which itself is a continuationof U.S. application Ser. No. 15/470,551, filed Mar. 27, 2017, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,772,102, issued on Sep. 26, 2017, both of which areincorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

For a medical professional examining or performing surgery on a patient,being able to clearly see the area of interest is critical. For thispurpose, many different illumination devices and vision enhancingdevices are available. Illumination devices include many different typesof medical headlamps, some powered by a battery pack worn at the waist,while others are powered by a battery pack worn on the headband of theheadlamp. One example of a headlamp is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,008,040 (Moore). Moore references a headlamp having a self-containedsource of electrical energy in the form of rechargeable “button” cellsand to a recharger unit for use with same.

For vision enhancement, there are eyeglasses that not only correctvision but that also magnify the area of interest. Although efforts havebeen made to twin eyeglasses with a light source, these devices tend tobe somewhat cumbersome and expensive, with battery placement achallenging issue in design.

Although it is known to clip a flashlight to a pair of eyeglasses, theresult has been suboptimal. Ideally, the light source should bepositioned directly between the user's eyes, and projects light straightahead from this position. But because the bridge of a pair of eyeglassesis generally above eye level, a simple flashlight attached to thisbridge if pointed down so that the front of the flashlight is ateyelevel, will project a beam of light downwardly. Generally, andparticularly in a medical setting, this is undesirable because thefurther a light source is from the user's interpupil region, the largershadows it creates, thereby failing to adequately light the region ofinterest.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described andillustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which aremeant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. Invarious embodiments, one or more of the above described problems havebeen reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed toother improvements.

In a first, separate embodiment, the present invention is a lightingdevice, for attachment to an object structured to be worn on at leastone facial feature of a human user, having a releasable fastener adaptedfor attachment to the above-noted object and a pole, having a first endpivotably connected to the releasable fastener, and a second end,opposed to the first end. An electric lamp is pivotably connected to thesecond end. Further, the pole defines an internal cavity and has batterycontacts positioned to contact a battery set placed in the internalcavity. A conductive assembly is electrically connected between thebattery contacts and the electric lamp, so as to power the electriclamp.

In a second, separate embodiment, the present invention is a method ofproviding light to an area in front of the eyes of a human user,utilizing an object structured to be worn on at least one facial featureof said human user and a light device that includes a releasablefastener and a pole, having a first end pivotably connected to thereleasable fastener, and a second end, opposed to the first end, andcontaining a battery set; an electric lamp, pivotably connected to thesecond end; and a conductive assembly, electrically connected betweenthe battery set and the electric lamp, so as to power the electric lamp.The method includes clipping the releasably fastening light device tothe object and placing the object on the face of the user; and using thelamp to provide light to the area in front of the eyes of the user.

In a third, separate embodiment, the present invention is an assemblyfor assisting the vision of a user and including an object structured tobe worn on at least one feature of the face of a human user; and a lightdevice attached to this object, and further including a pole, having afirst end pivotably connected to the bridge, and a second end, opposedto the first end and containing a battery set. Further an electric lampis pivotably connected to the second end and a conductive assembly iselectrically connected between the battery set and the electric lamp, soas to power the electric lamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced drawings. It isintended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to beconsidered illustrative rather than restrictive.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a light releasable fastener, according tothe present invention, clipped to a pair of eyeglasses.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the light releasable fastener of FIG. 1,showing some hidden elements with dashed lines.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the light releasable fastener,showing some further hidden elements with dashed lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modificationsin the described embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as described herein are contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

In the context of this application, a “set” may include multipleelements or a single element.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a vision enhancing assembly 10, includes a releasablefastener 12, adapted to permit attachment to a bridge 14 of a pair ofeyeglasses 16. A pole 18 is hinged (pivotably attached in one plane ofmovement) at a first end to releasable fastener 12. In turn, a lamp 20(which may also be referred to as a bezel) is hinged to second end ofpole 18, which is opposed to the first end. Pole 18 holds a battery set24, which is electrically connected by way of battery contacts 32 and34, and a conductive assembly 36 to lamp 20, so as to power lamp 20. Inone embodiment, an actuator 22 is available to activate lamp 20, andadjust light intensity, is present on the lamp 20. A return conductiveassembly (not shown) is connected between lamp 20 and battery contact32, in accordance with well-known principles of electrical lightingdesign.

In one embodiment, conductive assembly 36 may include a pair of wirespassing between pole 18 and lamp 20, to conduct electricity to lamp 20and back to battery set 24. Alternatively, pole 18 or lamp 20 mayinclude a socket that accepts a mating jack from lamp 20 or pole 18,respectively. Referring to FIG. 3, in another embodiment, a contact 30on a first portion of the hinge between pole 18 and lamp 20, makescontact with a facing arcuate contact 28 on an adjacent portion of thathinge. As the hinge is rotated, electrical connection is maintained.

In one embodiment battery set 24 is a stack of cell batteries, of thetype commonly used to power watches and other articles where space is ata premium, and having a diameter of between 8 mm and 14 mm, depending onthe exact type of cell battery. In one embodiment, more specifically,ANSI 1166A(L) batteries are used. In an additional embodiment, a AAAbattery is used. In one embodiment batteries 24 are rechargeable, with,for example, the socket for connecting to the jack from the lamp alsoserving as a recharging port. In an additional embodiment pole 18 opensto permit replacement of batteries. In yet another embodiment, pole 18is produced integrally with the battery set, and is made for a singleuse only. In one variant of this embodiment the hinges are made to snapapart (or otherwise come apart), to permit easy replacement of pole 18.In a further embodiment, assembly 10 further includes a set ofalternative lamps 20, to provide differing light intensities, colors andother varying light characteristics, per user choice. This isparticularly efficient in the embodiment in which the lamp 20 snaps offpole 18. Lamp 20 generally includes a high efficiency light source, suchas a light emitting diode (LED).

In one embodiment, assembly 10 does not include a releasable fastener,but is integral with the pair of eyeglasses 16, and is defined asincluding eyeglasses 16. Many different releasable fastener types 12fall within the scope. For example, in one embodiment, releasablefastener 12, includes a threaded element that can be tightened to pressagainst the bridge 14, to keep the assembly 10 securely in place. Inanother releasable fastener type, metal that is resiliently deformableis used, to grip the bridge 14. Further, instead of releasable fastener12, a magnet may attach assembly 10 to a magnetic spot on eyeglasses 16.In further embodiments, assembly 10 is attached to, releasably in someembodiments, permanently in others, to some object other than a pair ofeyeglasses, that is structured to be worn on at least one facial featureof a human user, an ear harness, for example or a headband.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussedabove, those possessed of skill in the art will recognize certainmodifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. Itis therefore intended that the following appended claims and claimshereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications,permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their truespirit and scope.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A lighting device, for attachment to anobject structured to be worn on at least one facial feature of a humanuser, comprising: (a) a releasable fastener for releasable attachment tosaid object; (b) a pole, having a first end releasably pivotablyconnected to said releasable fastener, and a second end, opposed to saidfirst end, said pole including a battery; (c) an electric lamp,releasably pivotably connected to said second end; (d) a conductiveassembly, electrically connected between said battery and said electriclamp, so as to power said electric lamp; and (e) wherein when saidbattery is depleted of charge, said pole can be replaced.
 2. Thelighting device of claim 1, wherein said electric lamp includes a highefficiency light source.
 3. The lighting device of claim 2, wherein saidhigh efficiency light source is a light emitting diode.
 4. The lightingdevice of claim 1, further including an actuator for activating ordeactivating a flow of electricity to said electric lamp.
 5. Thelighting device of claim 1, further including an actuator forcontrolling magnitude of electric current to said electric lamp.
 6. Thelighting device of claim 1, wherein said pole is releasably pivotablyconnected to said releasable fastener, by being releasably hinged tosaid releasable fastener.
 7. The lighting device of claim 1, whereinsaid electric lamp is releasably pivotably connected to said pole bybeing releasably hinged to said pole.
 8. The lighting device of claim 1,wherein said releasable fastener is a clip.
 9. The lighting device ofclaim 1, wherein said releasable fastener is a magnet, adapted toreleasably fasten to a magnetic portion of said object.
 10. A method ofproviding light to an area in front of the eyes of a human user,comprising: (a) providing an object structured to be worn on at leastone facial feature of a human user; (b) providing a light device,including: (i) a releasable fastener; (ii) a pole, having a first endreleasably pivotably connected to said releasable fastener, and a secondend, opposed to said first end and containing a battery set; (iii) anelectric lamp, releasably pivotably connected to said second end; and(iv) a conductive assembly, electrically connected between said batteryset and said electric lamp, so as to power said electric lamp; (c) usingsaid releasable fastener to releasably fasten said light device to saidobject; (d) placing said object on said facial feature of said humanuser; (e) using said lamp to provide light to said area in front of theeyes of said user; and (f) when said battery is depleted of charge,removing said pole and installing a new pole.
 11. The method of claim10, wherein said object is a piece of eyewear.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein said piece of eyewear is a pair of eyeglasses, and whereinsaid light device is attached to the bridge of said pair of eyeglasses.13. An assembly for assisting the vision of a user, comprising: (a) anobject structured to be worn on at least one facial feature of a humanuser; and (b) a light device attached to said object, and including: (i)a pole, having a first end releasably pivotably connected to saidobject, and a second end, opposed to said first end, and containing abattery set; (ii) an electric lamp, releasably pivotably connected tosaid second end; and (iii) a conductive assembly, electrically connectedbetween said battery set and said electric lamp, so as to power saidelectric lamp.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said pole ispivotably connected to said pole by being pivotably connected to areleasable fastener, which is removably fastened to said object.
 15. Theassembly of claim 13, wherein said pole is removable and replaceable.16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said conductive assembly includesa wire, connecting said battery to said electric lamp.
 17. The assemblyof claim 13, wherein said conductive assembly includes matching contactson said pole and said electric lamp, that stay in contact as saidelectric lamp is pivoted.
 18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein saidpole is pivotably connected to said bridge, such that it pivots along asingle plane that is perpendicular to said bridge.
 19. The assembly ofclaim 18, wherein said lamp is pivotably connected to said pole, suchthat it pivots in said single plane.
 20. The assembly of claim 13,wherein said lamp is removably pivotably connected to said pole.